Roberto Leoni was born in Rome and studied classics. While still a student at La Sapienza University in Rome, he was awarded a grant by the C.U.T. (University Theatrical Center) and his collections of poems and short stories were published. An important producer made one of his short stories into a film, EAT IT interpreted by Frank Wolff and the beginner Paolo Villaggio. His collection of poems won the Culture Award from the Italian Presidency of Ministries.

Along his career Roberto Leoni has written, besides poems, novels and short stories, also for radio, theatre, television, but above all for the cinema with more than 80 screenplays of films selected for several important festivals (Cannes, Mosca, Bruxelles, Toronto, Torino, Città del Capo, Sidney, Los Angeles, Annecy…) and interpreted by actors including Kirk Douglas, Roger Moore, Stacey Keach, Vittorio Gassman, Ornella Muti, Tony Musante, Glenn Ford, Martin Balsam, Irene Papas, Donald Pleasance, Giancarlo Giannini...

After serving as first AD for directors like Tonino Valerii  and Luciano Salce , Roberto Leoni has written and directed a number of feature and short films including: THE GUARDIANS for Numero Tre Roma/Antenne Paris, ES KNALLT for Dieter Geissler Film Monaco - distributed by Konstantin Film, DARK TALE starring John Savage and Claudia Gerini – distributed by Tristar-Columbia, ON THE RIGHT SIDE starring Catherine Spaak and Luca Ward, Union Contact/RAI Uno (Sidney Italian Australian Film Festival, Best Direction Award at Roma Film Festival and at Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana/Cuba), THE GREAT ARTISTS (18X35’) series for G&I Editors – distributed by RAI International.

For RAI Roberto Leoni wrote GENTE DI MARE (24x50’) and TV movies for SABATO GIALLO (4x90’): VICIOUS GAME, THE FRAMING GAME, DOUBLE CROSS and  A HIGH PRICE TO PAY.

At present Roberto Leoni, who is one of the authors of SANTA SANGRE by Alejandro Jodorowsky, has written and directed an astonishing new metaphysical thriller located in the Vatican: DE SERPENTIS MUNERE (The Serpent's Gift).